Obama congratulates Sudanese, urges restraint
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WASHINGTON — US President Barack Obama congratulated the Sudanese Sunday for what he called an inspiring referendum on their country's future, but urged calm as an expected secession is worked out.
"The referendum now moves into another phase, and while official results will not be available for some time, independent observers have been extremely encouraged by the credibility of the process to date," Obama said in a statement.
"We urge all parties to continue to urge calm and show restraint as the parties work to complete implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement."
Partial results trickling in after seven days of voting showed a landslide for secession of mainly Christian southern Sudan from the Muslim north, antagonists in a devastating 1983-2005 civil war.
South Sudan's president Salva Kiir urged his people to forgive the north for the war, in which an estimated two million people died.
"The sight of so many Sudanese casting their votes in a peaceful and orderly fashion was an inspiration to the world and a tribute to the determination of the people and leaders of south Sudan to forge a better future," Obama said.
He commended the organizers of the referendum and the domestic and international observers, but "most of all, the voters who turned out in high numbers and high spirits to take their turn at the ballot box."
"The past week has given the world renewed faith in the prospect of a peaceful, prosperous future for all of the Sudanese people -- a future that the American people long to see in Sudan," he said.
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